1983 Houston Astros season

Did You Know?

• Mike Scott was acquired from the New York Mets on December 10, 1982, in exchange for Danny Heep.
• Bill Dawley was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on March 31, 1983, along with Tony Walker, for Alan Knicely.
• Troy Afenir was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 1983 MLB draft secondary phase.

Regular season

The Astros opened the season at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Joe Niekro facing Fernando Valenzuela in a rematch of a 2–0 pitchers' duel from two years earlier. Neither starter lasted three innings, and the Dodgers piled on 15 hits for a 16–7 rout; Pedro Guerrero had three hits, a home run, and six RBI, missing the cycle by a double. The 16 runs allowed were the season high for Houston, and the loss began a nine-game losing streak. On April 17, Nolan Ryan struck out Andre Dawson for the 3,500th strikeout of his career. Ten days later, Ryan fanned Brad Mills of the Expos for his 3,509th strikeout, breaking Walter Johnson's all-time record; Ryan pitched eight innings, Phil Garner and Dickie Thon each drove in two runs, and Frank LaCorte earned the save in a 4–2 win that moved the Astros half a game out of last place. Right-hander Mike Scott made his Astros debut on May 6, tossing four scoreless innings but walking five; Frank DiPino earned the victory with five perfect innings of relief, and Omar Moreno collected four hits and three RBI in a 6–0 win over the Braves. On June 4, Alan Ashby homered twice, doubled, and drove in six runs to back Mike Scott's first win as an Astro, a 13–0 complete-game shutout of the Cincinnati Reds.